Just what we didn't know we were in need of, a brilliant family-themed
zombie film.
**** ½ out of 5
93 minutes
Rated PG for scary action and images, thematic
elements, some rude humor and language
Focus Features
If there was one thing you didn’t know was missing at the multiplex, it's
horror for the whole family. Quite possibly even more so I bet you never would
have thought it was zombie movies either. But have no fear, stop-motion
animation studio Laika is here to save you. Harkening to the spirit of “
Monster House,”
directors Sam Fell (“
The Tale of Despereaux” and the underrated “
Flushed Away”)
and Chris Butler (who wrote the film) also know all too well what it is like to
be a kid obsessed with all things horror. Something I too know all too well
having watched HBO’s “
Tales from the Crypt” when it debuted in 1989 when I was
merely nine years old. With only two previous feature films under their belts
(production work on “
Corpse Bride” and their first solo release “
Coraline”),
they’re out to prove that horror can be fun for everyone with their latest
venture, “
ParaNorman.”
Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) lives in the town of Blithe Hollow which
is about to celebrate its 300th anniversary. Norman spends his free time
watching horror movies with his grandmother’s (voiced by Elaine Stritch) ghost.
Yep, that’s right, much to his parents’ (Sandra and Perry, voiced by Ben Garlin
and Leslie Mann) dismay, Norman sees dead people. Including, but not limited
to, human and animals alike. Norman’s Uncle Prenderghast (voiced by John
Goodman) is the only one who understands Norman’s lot in life and sets out to
let him know that a witch’s curse is about to unleash the undead upon Blithe
Hollow and Norman is the only one who can stop it. Not without a little help
from his new friend Neil (voiced by Tucker Albrizzi), his sister Courtney
(voiced by Anna Kendrick), who spends her time pining over jock Mitch (Casey
Affleck), and even school bully Alvin (voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse).
Brains squish, “
Halloween”
ringtones blare, hockey masks are donned, and even “
The Walking Dead” gets name
dropped. There’s even an opening movie-within-the-movie that looks like
something Quentin Tarantino could have dreamed up. Aside from “
Monster House”
and “
Coraline,”
this just may be the most fun kids could have at a horror movie since “
Monster Squad.”
With jaw-dropping stop-motion animation, Laika and directors Fell and Butler
are having the time of their lives. Some of it borders on maybe being a little
too much for the youngest viewers, but I blame modern society on that. Growing
up with the likes of “
Gremlins,” “
Poltergeist,” “
Piranha,” and my all-time favorite film
Jaws, on an endless loop, this would undoubtedly have been another
favorite. Being 32 years of age now, without children of my own just yet, I
still can’t wait to add “
ParaNorman” to my Blu-ray collection. And not just for
personal repeat viewings but so that someday my own children will have their own
modern classic that I’ll be more than happy to share with them.
Photo courtesy Focus Features
Great review. This flick was a little too slow at times for me, but for the most part kept me entertained with its humor and energetic voice-cast. Especially the little fat kid, who was not only was cute as anything, but also nailed every time he had a funny line.
ReplyDelete